We are Officially Over-the-Hill, Out of Touch as Car Guys

[McLovin]

I think it's officially over for most of us, we are out of touch.

I feel like since I was maybe 14 or so, I've had my finger on the pulse of car culture.

For the first time, I feel like I just don't "get" modern car culture, or at least what today's kids seem to be very in to.

From what I can see, very few kids these days really lust after any porsche. Not the current models, and certainly not antiques like a '73S. Even Ferraris, etc. don't seem to get much interest from the under-25 club.

Instead, you get the following. These mods and styles are not random, but they do seem to evolve very quickly. Giant, exposed turbos are big (do you really need a turbo that big??). Missing front bodywork is big (it seemed to start with missing the front bumper, but now extends further). "Stanced" with the weird camber, etc.







It's uber-cool to have a turbo "anti-lag" system that causes flames to be shot out of the exhaust (even though it apparently blows the turbo and exhaust up fairly quickly).


Doing this is also considered "cool"


I'm not critical of it, at all (well, other than not driving with a steering wheel in place!). I'm glad to see there's at least some kids out there still interested in cars. I'll freely admit, though, that I don't "get" it, and that it's because I'm now old!

[sammyg2]

We are Officially Over-the-Hill, Out of Touch as Car Guys

I'm good with that.

[porsche4life]

Don't worry, it's not just cars that most of you guys are out of touch about.

[2porscheguy]

I don't get it either McL!

But then again, I really, really don't get this either!



Seriously....WTF!

[bivenator]

Out of touch, sure I am. I had my daughter in the Pcar, she is 24 and we pulled away from a stoplight along side a ricer. I let it run thru 2nd to about 4500 rpm before shifting. Brisk but not fast, the ricer fart canned his way in front of me and then turned on his hazards. I laughed and said to my daughter, "looks like he may have blown it up" in reference to the hazards. She laughed and said that he was racing me and that is the signal that I was just owned.
I had no idea I had even been racing, much less owned. Oh well, live and learn.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by McLovin

From what I can see, very few kids these days really lust after any porsche. Not the current models, and certainly not antiques like a '73S. Even Ferraris, etc. don't seem to get much interest from the under-25 club.

Um... maybe because you average under 25 person doesn't have a six figure income?

However, having bought a Miata I must agree with you on the redonculosness of cars set up like this:





Sure, we all know a lower, stiffer suspension gets you around corners faster... however the above mods are all about appearance and nothing about performance.

On the other hand... did we not have low riders when we were in high school with lowered cars, outlandish paint jobs, and impractical suspension?

Now...

Get off my lawn!

[Por_sha911]

Back in the 60's it was cool to cause the car to run rich and then spark the fuel in the exhaust to create a flame out the back.
For me, the 70's brought in air shocks to jack up the back, CB radios, and Craig stereo amps so that everyone could "enjoy" BTO or Zeppelin with me...
There will always be some fad or new hot ticket item.

[McLovin]

I lusted after the 911SC when I was a teen (and SCs were sitting in the showrooms), and I didn't have even a 2 figure income. So did a lot of other teens.

The teens these days mostly aren't lusting after 997s or 991s. Not sure why that is.

Yeah, we had lowriders, etc. back in our day, but those were mostly "fringe" groups. The examples above seem to me to be very mainstream popular with kids these days.

[Shifter]

I wonder what their reaction time is after hitting a pothole?

On the upside, all you need is a speed bump to keep them off your lawn!

[Tervuren]

I can understand the body less look in pick #1, and the exposed turbo's - just look at Model a hot rods without engine covers - to show off the engine.

The stanced craze is rather weird to me, why spend so much to modify a car - then make it so all it can do is sit in your garage?

[goyoyl]

My take is that a lot of people “lust” after these cars because it’s cheaper to get these cars.. And modify it.

When you read articles about Porsches, specially the earlies, you will most probably read about problems in the cars.. So potential problems, plus high costs.. Equals not so exciting times, because they assume they’ll spend a lot and it’ll be in the shop often.

A lot of young kids also want convenience.. Spend 100T on a classic porsche that has a sub-par (if at all working) airconditioning unit with squeaks.. Or half the amount on a faster car, with all the modern day convenience (aircon, power steering, power etc.) that’s less costly to maintain.

You know, a lot of people look at power as the ultimate barometer… They’re sorely missing out on a lot...

[scottmandue]

I graduated high school in 1975... pretty much lusted after Camero's and Mustangs... the whole German car thing hit me later in life.

I think most of the "slammed" tricked out cars are Honda's, Mazda, VW's and older BMW, Lexus, etc. that have a low entry price and thus are popular with the younger crowd.

I know I was guilty of slapping glass packs and "racing"shocks on my cars back in the day.

[Rednine11]

I have a brother who's a state cop
He claims the pants hanging down thing got started in the prison system by homosexuals. I was told that the farther the pants hung down the more they were willing to do ( go farther )
So that was a clear indicator immediately to others with the same interest.
Now, this doesnt mean its true. That is what I heard.
No offense to anyone who might potentially be offended by this reply,
what you do is your business not mine.

[Bill Douglas]

I love it that they are into Skylines, Evos, Impressas, rice and more rice. That way I know my car will never get stolen.

They pull off some pretty impressive stunts like completely reprogramming a Civic ECU and swapping out the internals for better stuff.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I think it's officially over for most of us, we are out of touch.

Missing front bodywork is big (it seemed to start with missing the front bumper, but now extends further). "Stanced" with the weird camber, etc.



I'm glad to see there's at least some kids out there still interested in cars. I'll freely admit, though, that I don't "get" it, and that it's because I'm now old!

Well duh, after you stance you car the first thing that happens is you lose the front bodywork on a speed bump

[legion]

Funny, I remember the precursors of many of these trends when I was in high school (mid 90's).

"Stance" began because people wanted to lower their cars on the cheap. They would cut the springs (which often caused other problems) but not have an alignment done.

Exposed bodywork was similar. People would through on junkyard turbos and remove bodywork to make them fit.

Some trends, like mag wheels, fortunately died in the 90s.

[HHI944]

What size waste gate and exhaust do you need to counter boost creep I that? 5" tubing and 75mm gate?

[KNS]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I lusted after the 911SC when I was a teen (and SCs were sitting in the showrooms), and I didn't have even a 2 figure income. So did a lot of other teens.

The teens these days mostly aren't lusting after 997s or 991s. Not sure why that is.

Yeah, we had lowriders, etc. back in our day, but those were mostly "fringe" groups. The examples above seem to me to be very mainstream popular with kids these days.

Just curious - will that be a concern for Porsche 20 years from now or will they be satisfied with SUV sales in North America and Asia? I suppose the 911 (991) will still be an aspirational car for when you've reached a certain age and can show your neighbors and coworkers that you've "made it".

I lusted after SCs and Carreras long before I could drive yet my soon to be 15 year old stepson has zero interest in Porsches or any cars.

[gatotom]

First off, none of you are out of touch because you have a computer and know how to use it, you might be over the hill and as far as I am concerned that is a good thing.

When I was a young one I got to experience taking my Porsche on the new interstates and drive all night over 100 mph and if I did get the man to chase me down, it was a 5 dollar speeding ticket paid at the nearest justice of the peace, Sweet, pay the fine and while the judge and state police are drinking coffee, I jump back into the car, hit the interstate and put the pedal to the metal. Remember that 5 dollar ticket was expensive when 3 bucks filled your car with premium gas.

I doubt these new boys with their tricked out cars can get up to 100 mph in their setups let alone to be able to afford a speeding ticket over 100.

So, yes, I am over the hill and definitely out of touch with the new car guys, but I am the lucky one.

[HardDrive]

I wouldn't expect kids to lust after Porsches, they are expensive to buy and maintain.

Ricers are cheap and easy to work on. Easy on the wallet if you blow it up up as well.

But I don't quite understand why anyone would want a front wheel drive performance car. If I was going to go asian, I'd get a Nissan 240, Miata, Nissan Z car, etc... What is the point in 400hp if its fed through a FWD setup that hunting all over the place for traction?